:)

How happy I was when Bhai was born.....I had someone to tie rakhi to ;) That’s all what i wanted him for.... I didn’t like taking care of him especially during my play time. I honestly declare that my brobs has probably been the most bullied sibling and I do not apologize for my acts. On this special day I just thought I should probably write down one of my favourite anecdotes during my childhood when my brother was just a tiny toddler.

Mom: You better take him to play
Me: No, he is such a slow player, I lose my game.
Mom: You are an elder sister; you should be protective of your brother and look how mean you are!
Me: Of course I am protective....just keep him home so, no one gets to do anything to him. Now isn’t that protection?
Mom: Shut up and take him along with you.

I fretted, cried and tried all the possible ways to let my displeasure known but moms can be pretty adamant you see. I gave up and took him along. As he tagged along on my way to the playground, the cutie pie (he was quite a looker) gave me a nice smile to which I devilishly said -

Me: Stop smiling, do you know why mom takes so much care of you?
Bhai: Because I am her son.
Me: No you idiot. You are not her son, in fact you do not belong to the family. Once mom went to throw the garbage and saw you lying there. She got you home.
Bhai:(Too stunned to react probably)
Me (continuing in my patronizing tone): That’s the reason we all try to love you and mom loves you more

He stopped and asked me to drop him back home. I was so happy....my ploy worked. I dropped him home saying that he didn’t want to play. Mom didn’t ask any questions. I was glad to have my time but when I returned from my game I saw that tiny bundle in my room full of tears. His eyes were swollen red and his cheeks flushed. He refused to believe mom who was trying to convince him that he was indeed her son. When I entered, she looked at me and sharply said "You better tell him the truth or you will have it from me." I went to him and told him that I had lied and that I was just teasing him. He made me do a 'God promise' before believing me.

The tables have turned now; he is no longer the cutie pie that he used to be but a 6 footer who has a sharp wit, a sweet tongue but a teenage temper too. However, I still bully and blackmail him to my heart's content....that hasn't really changed ;)

Happy Birthday bhai!!!!!

Song

....

Shart lagi hai mar jaane ki
Jeena hai toh pyaar mein
Deh kahin bhi ho vo mera
jaan rakhi hai yaar mein jaa
….beh jaa
hai sagaar ka kehna
beh jaa… beh jaa
hai nadiya ko behna

behne de ghanghor ghata
behne de paani ki tarah
saagar mein jaa girna hai
behne de nadiya ki tarah

Gulzaar's beautiful poetry with Rahman's music for the upcoming movie Raavan

Dissecting my bag ;)

"You had to come like this", fumed my mom. I was attending her close friend's party (no idea what it was for) and aunty had insisted that I come along. The ever busy me decided to drop by on my way from office but my mom's question just when I was about to enter her friend’s house took me by surprise. I was appropriately decked up according to Keralite standards - a bangle instead of my adorable bracelet, a pair of mini chandeliers as ear-rings....but yet all my pain staking sacrifice seemed to have done nothing to please my mom. Her singular, focused and undivided attentive look on my backpack let me into the secret....I was carrying a backpack instead of the more feminine purse. It was pure sacrilege!

That evening, after lending me an earful of gyaan she did the unthinkable. She confiscated my backpack and began questioning me about its contents. Here’s how it went -


Mom: Why do you have to carry this file?
Me: I usually hate folding papers, so in case of unforeseen circumstances where I receive sheet(s) of paper(s) I could keep them in THAT file instead of folding them.
(Gives me a dissatisfied look and continues.)

Mom: What are these - comb, kaajal pencil,.......(I don’t wish to name my make up kit)
Me(frust): Mom, those are a woman's birthright!
(She quite agreed to that;) )

Mom: Why are there two wallets?
Me: In case someone steals one, I do not have to call you up for help....I will have some reserve money with me :P
(Hmmmmmmmmm look)

Mom: What is this book for?
Me: Reading......I have some leisure time to read in the bus and.....(she didn’t bother to listen the next part)

Mom: What’s this second book for?
Me: Oh that! the first book is about to get over....in case it does, I don’t have to stare at my fellow passengers, I have another one to start immediately

Mom(putting her hands up): Where the hell is your laptop?
Me: Hey! I don’t have to carry it everyday...I have a different system in my office and...
Mom(cutting me short again): You mean you carry this big backpack for carrying novels.....
Me (Grinning): Yeeeeeeeeeessssssssss

That did it! She stormed out of the room leaving me alone with my idiosyncrasies :D